Dickens' ninth novel was intended to illustrate the evils caused by long, drawn-out suits in the Courts of Chancery. Dickens had observed the inner workings of the courts as a reporter in his youth and observed that "The one great principle of the English law is to make business for itself". Bleak House is often considered Dickens' finest work although not his most popular. - David Perdue's Charles Dickens Home Page.

The BBC is producing a soap-style version of Charles Dickens' classic novel Bleak House.

It will be adapted into twice-weekly episodes by writer Andrew Davies, who wrote the BBC's popular adaptation of Jane Austen's Pride And Prejudice.

Costume dramas have traditionally been shown in weekly episodes, broadcast across several weeks.

Dickens' novels were first published in instalments with gripping cliffhangers to entice people to buy the next one.

Davies, who also adapted Victorian lesbian drama Tipping the Velvet for BBC Two, said the written style of Bleak House lent itself to the format of shorter TV episodes.

"It'll enable us to give a much fuller rendering of the book than we're normally able to in a classic adaptation," he said.

Characters

Davies said the adaptation could produce up to 20 episodes.

He said: "There are so many characters, there's such a lot of life, such a number of criss-crossing plots that it would be interesting to do it in a new way, having a lot of characters in the background of each other's stories.

"We've been working out ways of getting a good sort of cliff-hanger ending at the end of half-hour episodes."

Davies has written "a few pages" of the first draft, and production is not due to begin for several months.

Showcasing a newly svelte figure and blonde hairdo, Gillian Anderson led the red carpet roster of stars at the British Independent Film Awards in London on Tuesday.

The X-Files star, swathed in a halter-neck white satin gown, was beautifully backed in the glamour stakes by fellow actress Amanda Holden, who also had the flashbulbs blazing outside the Hammersmith Palais when she made her entrance in a romantic multi-coloured frock and orange pumps.

The big winner at the event was Mike Leigh's critically acclaimed movie Vera Drake, which centres on a back street abortionist in 1950s London. The movie swept the boards, scooping a total of six gongs – including best film and director - while stars Phil Davis and Imelda Staunton were awarded best actor and best actress respectively.

Bob Hoskins, the star of films including The Long Good Friday and Mona Lisa, took home the 2004 Richard Harris award for outstanding contribution by an actor to British film.

Also reigning triumphant were Korean film Oldboy which beat Fahrenheit 9/11 for the best foreign independent film prize, and Irishman John Crowley, who won the debut director award for Intermission.

The 2004 Fashion Acts auction was held on Wednesday 17th November and raised upwards of £35,000. After 42 photos were auctioned live, a further 42 are being auctioned on eBay.

Here's your chance to get involved and bid for this photograph taken on an Olympus C-760UZ and donated by Gillian Anderson.

Fully mounted with a black wooden frame and signed by Gillian, the photograph is a unique piece of memorabilia.

Each year Fashion Acts distributes the money raised from the auction in the form of grants to HIV and Aids related charities and organisations throughout Britain - all money raised will go towards a number of projects

Gillian said: "Given the context of this project I think this image speaks for itself"